Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;OJAI&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Ojai’ particularly characterized by flowers which are red/purple with in the center a light purple mark; the labellum is purple with some yellow and a white column; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/540,980 filed Sep. 29, 2011, and Netherlands Plant Breeders' Rightsapplication no. OPS839 filed Sep. 30, 2011. The disclosures of bothprior applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Ojai’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Ojai’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Ojai’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Ojai’ originated from a cross made by the inventorin 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seedparent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Sun Prince’, unpatented.The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘HappyBeauty’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Ojai’ was discovered andselected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2006 in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culturewas first performed in July, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, TheNetherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Ojai’, which in combination distinguishthis Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are red/purple with in the center a light        purple mark; the labellum is purple with some yellow and a white        column;    -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;    -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using        tissue culture;    -   4. inflorescence is long and sturdy    -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage        Presently, there is no commercial cultivar to which ‘Ojai’ can        be meaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘Ojai’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘Ojai’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘Ojai’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Ojai’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Ojai’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Ojai’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Ojai’ as grownin a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Ojai’ is27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of‘Ojai’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Ojai’ are a minimum of 5,000lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Ojai’ frompotting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘Ojai’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Sun            Prince’, unpatented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Happy Beauty’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—tissue culture.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-7            mm wide and green in color; freely branching. It takes 12            weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to initiate            roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Size at maturity.—Height: about 42 cm Spread: about 35 to 45            cm.        -   Growth habit.—small; dark-green leaves and a relatively            normal raceme.        -   Vigor.—moderate.        -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before            flowering.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two            sides.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval, the tip is blunt and            asymmetric.        -   Texture.—smooth and leathery.        -   Pubescence.—about 6 leaves.        -   Mature leaf length.—about 8 to 12 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—about 6 to 9 cm.        -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 1.5 mm.        -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: RHS N137A lower side: RHS            137B with purple RHS N79A.        -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:            RHS 139A lower side: RHS N79A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—about 8 to 20.        -   Length.—about 30 to 40 cm.        -   Diameter.—about 3 to 5 mm.        -   Strength.—strong.        -   Aspect.—upright.        -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—dark green RHS N187A.        -   Internode.—Length: about 22 to 29 mm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—upright to slightly pendant, racemose            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): about 14 to            20 mm Diameter (at midpoint): about 12 to 16 mm Shape:            egg-shaped Color: Red/purple RHS 60B.        -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that            has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a            temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after            a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2            racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers            per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected            approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a            leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;            lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.        -   Fragrance.—no fragrance.        -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3            days after tepal separation. Orientation at opening: slanted            upward and outward. Shape: see FIG. 2 Size: Height: about 43            to 51 mm Diameter: about 50 to 60 mm Depth of tube: about 10            mm.        -   Tepals.—Quantity and arrangement: six tepals that are            trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are            more pronounced than sepals.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl of tepals comprises 3            petals: 2 lateral petals and labellum. 2 lateral petals:            Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly cupped Apex: oval            Margin: weakly undulate Length: about 25 mm Width: about 30            mm Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface:            smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper side:            red/purple (RHS 70A) with in the center a light purple mark            (RHS N80C and RHS 72B). The veins are red/purple (RHS N79C)            lower side: red/purple (RHS 71B and RHS 72B) Labellum:            Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at            central junction of the lateral lobes and base of the            midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the            column; the midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2            short filiform appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the            labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular            with a bump and a rib on it Margin: entire and weakly            undulate Length: about 18 mm Width (not flattened): about 16            mm Texture: Upper and lower surface: smooth and satiny Color            (when fully opened): Main color is red/purple (RHS 59A). At            the base of the midlob there is some yellow (RHS 3A). Chirri            is red/purple (RHS 59A). Lateral lobs are red/purple (RHS            59A). Some yellow (RHS 3A) and white (RHS N155A) at the base            with red/purple spots and stripes (RHS 59A). Round the edges            a thin yellow edge (RHS 3A) Lower side: The base of mid lob            is yellow (RHS 7A), in the center purple/violet (RHS N80A).            Edges are purple (RHS 77A). Lateral lobs are red/purple (RHS            59B) and some white at the base (RHS N155A). Chirri: short            Pestle (callosities): small Length: about 3 mm Width: about            4 mm Height: about 4 mm Color: Base is white (RHS N155A).            Sides and top are yellow (RHS 3A) with red/purple stripes            and spots (RHS 59A).        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl of tepals comprises 3            sepals. Overall shape: Elliptical and weakly cupped Length:            about 25 to 30 mm Width: about 17 to 21 mm Texture: Upper            surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Dorsal            sepals is red/purple (RHS N79C/RHS 71A), Main color of            lateral sepals is RHS 71A with white (RHS N155A) at the base            and yellow (RHS 3C) with red/purple stripes and spots. The            lower side is red/purple (RHS 70) with on the lateral sepals            some yellow/green (RHS 145C) and purple (RHS N80A) veins.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.        -   Column.—Length: about 9 mm Diameter: about 5 mm Color: white            (RHS NN155C) with a purple/violet haze (RHS N80B).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: Two Size: about 1 mm Color:            yellow/orange RHS 23A.        -   Ovary.—Length: about 5 mm Diameter: about 4 mm Color: white            (RHS NN155C).        -   Pedicel.—Length: about 22 to 29 mm Diameter: about 3 mm            Texture: glabrous and smooth Color: At the base purple (RHS            N79B), further RHS N78B.-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named‘Ojai’, as illustrated and described herein.